---
title: ugly — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «ugly» in the school dictionary: Ugly means not nice to look at. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# ugly

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** Ugly, ugly duckling, old building, Calling, argument, He · **What happens:** mean, look, describe, grow, be, call · **To what, where:** something, beautiful swan, people, ugly cut, knee, ugliest creature · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«ugly» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 9 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [ugly in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/ugly.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Ugly means not nice to look at.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ugly:m1:1
# text = Ugly means not nice to look at.
1	Ugly	ugly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	nsubj	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	4	advmod	_	_
4	nice	nice	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	xcomp	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	look	look	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	xcomp	_	_
7	at	at	ADP	IN	_	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present | Ugly |  |  |  |  | nice *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **look** | to-infinitive | Ugly *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Stimulus |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Ugly can describe something nasty, unpleasant or violent, like an ugly fight or an ugly mood.

<!-- fold The tree, 16 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ugly:m2:1
# text = Ugly can describe something nasty, unpleasant or violent, like an ugly fight or an ugly mood.
1	Ugly	ugly	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	describe	describe	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	3	obj	_	_
5	nasty	nasty	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	4	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
7	unpleasant	unpleasant	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	conj	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
9	violent	violent	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
11	like	like	ADP	IN	_	14	case	_	_
12	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	14	det	_	_
13	ugly	ugly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
14	fight	fight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	_
15	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	18	cc	_	_
16	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	18	det	_	_
17	ugly	ugly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	18	amod	_	_
18	mood	mood	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **describe** | can |  | something |  |  |  | like a ugly fight or a ugly mood; ugly *property* | vn characterize-29.2-1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent something=Theme |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Ugly can describe something that looks dangerous, like an ugly cut or ugly storm clouds.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ugly:m3:1
# text = Ugly can describe something that looks dangerous, like an ugly cut or ugly storm clouds.
1	Ugly	ugly	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
2	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	describe	describe	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	3	obj	_	_
5	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	6	nsubj	_	_
6	looks	look	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	4	acl:relcl	_	_
7	dangerous	dangerous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	12	punct	_	_
9	like	like	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
10	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	12	det	_	_
11	ugly	ugly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	12	amod	_	_
12	cut	cut	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	parataxis	_	_
13	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	16	cc	_	_
14	ugly	ugly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	16	amod	_	_
15	storm	storm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	compound	_	_
16	clouds	cloud	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	12	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **describe** | can |  | something |  |  |  | ugly *property* | vn characterize-29.2-1-1 «NP V NP S\_ING»: agent=Agent something=Theme |
| 2 | **look** | present |  |  |  |  |  | dangerous *property* | vn stimulus\_subject-30.4 «NP V ADJ»: agent=Stimulus |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The ugly duckling grew into a beautiful swan.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ugly:x1:1
# text = The ugly duckling grew into a beautiful swan.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	ugly	ugly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	duckling	duckling	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	grew	grow	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	into	into	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
6	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
7	beautiful	beautiful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	swan	swan	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **grow** | past | the ugly duckling |  |  |  |  | into a beautiful swan *result* | vn become-109.1-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Patient into swan=Result |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
That old building is really ugly.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ugly:x2:1
# text = That old building is really ugly.
1	That	that	DET	DT	Number=Sing|PronType=Dem	3	det	_	_
2	old	old	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	building	building	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	really	really	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
6	ugly	ugly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | that old building |  |  |  |  | ugly *property* | tree rules |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Calling people ugly is unkind.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ugly:x3:1
# text = Calling people ugly is unkind.
1	Calling	call	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	csubj	_	_
2	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	1	obj	_	_
3	ugly	ugly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	1	xcomp	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
5	unkind	unkind	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **call** | gerund |  |  | people |  |  | ugly *property* | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: agent=Agent people=Recipient |
| 2 | **is** | present | Calling |  |  |  |  | unkind *property* | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The argument turned ugly.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ugly:x4:1
# text = The argument turned ugly.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	argument	argument	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	turned	turn	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	ugly	ugly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **turn** | past | the argument |  |  |  |  | ugly *property* | vn roll-51.3.1 «NP.theme V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He had an ugly cut on his knee.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ugly:x5:1
# text = He had an ugly cut on his knee.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	had	have	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	ugly	ugly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	cut	cut	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	on	on	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	knee	knee	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | past | He | a ugly cut |  | his knee |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent cut=Patient |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The sky looked ugly before the storm.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ugly:x6:1
# text = The sky looked ugly before the storm.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	sky	sky	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	looked	look	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	ugly	ugly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	xcomp	_	_
5	before	before	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	storm	storm	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **look** | past | the sky |  |  |  | before the storm | ugly *property* | vn peer-30.3 «NP V PP.theme»: agent=Agent before storm=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The troll was the ugliest creature in the forest.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ugly:x7:1
# text = The troll was the ugliest creature in the forest.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	troll	troll	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	ugliest	ugly	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	6	amod	_	_
6	creature	creature	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
7	in	in	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	forest	forest	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | past | the troll | the ugliest creature |  | the forest |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She wore an ugly jumper for fun.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ugly:x8:1
# text = She wore an ugly jumper for fun.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	wore	wear	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	ugly	ugly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	jumper	jumper	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	for	for	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	fun	fun	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **wear** | past | She | a ugly jumper |  |  |  | for fun | vn wipe\_manner-10.4.1-1 «NP V NP.source»: agent=Agent jumper=Source |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"What an ugly creature he is!"

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:ugly:x9:1
# text = "What an ugly creature he is!"
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	What	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	7	obj	_	_
3	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	ugly	ugly	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	creature	creature	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
6	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
7	is	be	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **be** *in a quote* | present | a ugly creature |  |  |  |  |  | vn representation-110.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Pivot what=Theme |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

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